Eleven American Mayors Announce Mayors for a Guaranteed Income

An effort to realize Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s economic dream, this coalition will commit to advocacy in favor of cash-based policies, and explore guaranteed income programs in cities reaching more than 7 million American residents 

June 29, 2020 – Today, eleven mayors from across the country are announcing Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a coalition of mayors who will explore cash payment programs in their cities and advocate for guaranteed income programs. The founding mayors of the network include: Michael D. Tubbs from Stockton, CA; Chokwe Antar Lumumba from Jackon, MS; Melvin Carter from St. Paul, MN; Ras J. Baraka from Newark, NJ; Aja Brown from Compton, CA; Eric Garcetti from Los Angeles, CA; Adrian Perkins from Shreveport, LA; Libby Schaaf from Oakland, CA; Victoria R. Woodards from Tacoma, WA; Stephen Benjamin from Columbia, SC and Keisha Lance Bottoms from Atlanta, Georgia.  

When Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called for the immediate abolition of poverty, he had an economic dream of guaranteed income for all Americans. More than 50 years later and against a similar backdrop of civil unrest, these mayors are bringing that dream to life. 

In the US, wealth and income inequality have reached historic highs. Nearly 40 percent of Americans cannot afford a single $400 emergency, and rising income inequality is compounded by a growing racial wealth gap. The median white worker made 28 percent more than the typical Black worker and 35 percent more than the median Latinx worker in the last quarter of 2019, and the median wealth of white families is more than $100,000 while the median wealth of Black families is approximately $10,000. COVID-19 has further exposed the economic fragility of most American households, and has disproportionately impacted Black and brown people.

A guaranteed income is a monthly cash payment given directly to individuals, empowering recipients to address their most urgent needs and providing a cushion for unpredictable expenses, external shocks, and volatility. It is unconditional, and is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net.

“We are living in uncertain times with even greater widening economic disparity as a result of COVID-19,” said Stockton Mayor Tubbs, founder of  Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. “As mayors, our problems may look different from town to town, but we are united in our duty to ensure the economic security of our residents and it is unacceptable that people who are working two and three jobs can’t afford basic necessities. We encourage all U.S. mayors to join us in strengthening our communities by supplementing the existing social safety net and driving forward this powerful tool for racial, gender, and economic equality.” 

Mayor Tubbs founded the coalition following the success of his Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), funded by several philanthropic organizations, including the Economic Security Project.

“I am excited to join this coalition of mayors to explore guaranteed income programs at the local level,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “This is an important first step to achieving economic security, especially for those who have been overlooked and left behind because of economic inequality. This initiative will allow us to act against poverty and equip vulnerable residents with a means of meeting their basic needs and achieving greater success.” 

“Too many Americans are one missed paycheck away from an eviction or being unable to put food on the table — and that was true long before COVID-19,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “When this public health crisis ends, we have to refuse a return to normal in favor of a future better than normal ever was, and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income does just that by focusing on meaningful and innovative solutions to economic insecurity, inequality, and poverty.”

“People do not have enough income to take care of basic needs. These conditions were unacceptable before COVID-19 struck, and they are intolerable now,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, whose guaranteed income taskforce just released its report. “No person should have to deal with these stresses. That is why I remain committed to pushing for a guaranteed income,  another step in our work to end poverty in Newark, and to create a more equitable and empowered city.”

Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is founded in partnership with the Economic Security Project. The coalition is also announcing a new partnership with What Works Cities, a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative, to elevate lessons learned and share best practices within the coalition and to additional cities across the country.

A resolution in support of guaranteed income is currently in front of the United States Conference of Mayors, on which the Executive Committee will vote on June 30th. 

To learn more about Mayors for a Guaranteed Income visit www.mayorsforagi.org. 

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ABOUT MAYORS FOR A GUARANTEED INCOME

Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is a coalition of mayors who will explore cash payment programs in their cities as a response to COVID-19 resulting in nationwide economic insecurity. The mayors will advocate for guaranteed income programs. Against a similar backdrop of civil unrest more than 50 years ago, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called for the immediate abolition of poverty, and his economic dream of guaranteed income for all Americans. Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, CA founded the coalition following the success of his Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), funded by several philanthropic organizations, including the Economic Security Project. To learn more about Mayors for a Guaranteed Income visit www.mayorsforagi.org.